Cultivator.



Patantefl Sept. 26, 1a99.-- 4

3 Shouts-Sheet l, l

(Io Model.)

. INVENT W B) A TTORNEYS.

WITNESSES W Patented s t. 26, I899.

L. P. RIF-E. G ULTIVATOBQ (Application ma Apr. us, 1899.

3 S'hae1sSh-eet 2.

(l lo Modal.)

WITNESSES mma se tza; 1899;

L. 'P.' BIFE. GULTIVATOB.

(Applicitibn filed 4 16, 1899.)

(llu lpdel.)

WITNESSES ml: MIDI min; 50.. mo-Lwno..wmncmu. a. c.

and pointed out in the claims.

I vide a tension device so applied to the levers the dead-weight of theshovel-beams.

COMPANY, or

LOUIsPJRI E, or DEFIANCE, oHio,

PATENT O F CE.

Assrenon TO THE CLlPPER PLOW sAME PLACE.

CU LTIVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part Letters Patent No. 633,906, dated September26, 18.99.

Application filed April it, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS P. RIFE, of Dell'- ance, in the county ofDefiance and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Cultivator,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. Y

My invention relates to that class of weedcultivators in which provisionis made for the drivers weight to balance and take from the necks of theteam the weight of the pole and the downward drag of the shovel-beams.In this class of cultivators'when the suspended shovels or teeth are inthe ground the weight and downward pull of the pole on the necks of theteam are greater than when the shovels or teeth are outof the ground.

' The principal object of the invention is to provide economic andconvenient means for shifting the axle to and fro by the same movementby which the cultivator shovels or teeth are raised or lowered, thusshifting the .fulcrum so that the weight and downward pull of the poleupon the necks of the horses may be kept practically uniform regardlessof whether ,the shovels or teeth are raised or lowered.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a means whereby the axlemay be shifted and the-shovel-beams simultaneously raised or loweredeither by hand or by horse power or whereby either or both of theshovel-beams may be raised independently of the move; ment of the axle.I

Another object of the invention is to procontrolling the movement of theshovel-beams that neither the team nor the driver need raise Theinvention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1- is ,a'vertical section through the machine, taken practicallyon the line 1 l of Fig. 3, the shovel-beams being elevated. Fig. 2 is'aSGClliOllSllHllfil to Fig. l, the shovelbeams being illustrated aslowered and the Serial No.7l3,122. '(No model.)

shovelsas in the ground. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section takenpractically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. of one of 'the shovel-beams andits attached shovels and a horizontal section through a hanger-rod usedin connection with such beam, and Fig. 5 is a detail view illustratingthe arch connected to the auxiliary frame and the parts attached to saidarch.

The main frame of the machine consists of two diverging horizontal sidebeams 10, which side beams are made to approach at the front and aresecured to the pole or tongue 11 in any approved inanneu An auxiliaryframe 121is pendent from the forward portion of the main frame, and thispendent or auxiliary frame 12 has attached to it an arch 13, the endswhereof are straight. A cross-bar let connects the side pieces of themain frame, the cross-bar'heing located between the center ofthe mainframe and the auxiliary or pendent frame 12', and a pivoted arm 15 forthe doubletree 1G is attached to the said crosswherein the body of thebeam consists of a Fig. 4 is a plan view 7 straight front beam 20,having its forward end upwardly curved and pivot-ally attached 1 to anarm 21, said arm being provided with an upwardly-extending pin 22,.whichpin is passed through a bearing 23,located at an end of the front arch13.

The pin 22 is ably held in thesaid hearing.

In addition to the front upwardly-curved bar 20 the shovel-beam consistsof a straight outer bar 24, attached to the outer face of the front bar20, and an inner'curved bar 25, secured at one end to the inner face'ofthe front bar 20 and at its rear end to the outer bar 24; at a pointnear'the rear extremity of said outer bar. A pin 26 is passed throughadjustthe two bars 24 and 25 at a point between their centers and theirrear ends, and a clutch 27 of any approved description is shown assecured upon the rear end of the straight bar 24 of the shovel-frame insuch manner that the shovel 28, connected with the clntcl1,will beoutside of the vertical plane of the outer face of said outer bar, whileanother clutch 29 is secured to said outer bar 24 of the sh ovelbeam,and this second clutch extends into the space between the two bars 24and25 and carries the shovel 30, which is at the inner side of the outerbar 24, and a third clutch 31 is secured to the inner curved bar 25, theshovel 32, carried by this latter clutch, being opposite the inner faceof the said inner bar 25, so that the various shovels 28, 30, and 32 arein stepped arrangement.

A vertical yoke 33 is secured to the outer bar 24 of each shovel-beam,and each yokeis provided upon its inner face with a series of loops 34,and the lower vertical member of a guide-rod 36 is made to pass throughthe loops of each yoke 33, and each of said guide rods or bars isprovided with an upper vertical member that is journaled in any suitablemanner'in boxes 37, that are adjustably secured to the side beams of themain frame. These guide-bars 3b serve to prevent the shovel-beams havingtoo much swing, and when the said shovel-beams are raised the guide-bars36, in connection with devices to be hereinafter described, hold theshovelbeams steady in their upper position.

Each of the shovel-beams is provided with a hanger-rod 3S, and eachhanger-rod is made to enter a vertical chamber in a casing 39, the saidcasing having slots in opposite sides through which pins 40 extend thatare passed through the hanger-rods, and springs 41 are coiled around theends of the hanger-rods entering the casings, having bearing againstsaid pins 40 and the upper ends of the easings. These springs serve tocushion the hanger-rods and ease the said rods as they are brought intoplay to lift the shovelbeams. The casing 39 of each hanger-rod ispivotallyattached to a block 42 in such manner that said hanger-rods mayhave lateral movement, and the blocks 42 are pivoted on the pins 26 onthe shovel-beams in such manner that said blocks may haveforward-andrearward movement. Thus the hanger-rods have virtually aswivel connection with the shovel-beams.

A series of apertures 43 is provided at the upper end of eachhanger-rod, and the nose 44 of the head portion of a hand-lever 45 is.

made to pass through one' of the apertures providedfor each of thehanger-rods, the ex- 48, suitably journaled upon the side beams of themain frame in front of the upper portion of the axle A, and a fork 49 isprojected downward from the shaft 48 near each of its ends, and theseforks extend over the guiderods 36 when the shovel-beams are raised,holding said beams against lateral movement. A crank-arm 50 is securedto each end of the shaft 48, and these crank-arms are provided with pins51, that ext-end through slots 52 in the upper ends of draw-bars 53, andthese draw-bars are pivotally attached to shoes 54, said shoes beingsecured to the vertical portions of the axle A. Alink is pivoted to oneof the shoes, preferably the right-hand shoe, at the same point wherethe draw-bar 53 is pivoted, the said link being made to extend rearward,while the drawbars extend upwardly and forwardly. The link 55 is pivotedat its rear end to a handlever 56, and this lever is fulcrumed upon asuitable support 57 at the right-hand side of the main frame, thehand-lever being provided with a thumb-latch 58, adapted to engage withany one of a series of apertures 59, made in a rack-bar 60, alsosupported bythe main frame of the machine.

Springs 61 are attached to the upper portions of the hand-levers 45, andthese springs extend forwardly and downwardly and are connected with thefront portion of the main frame through the medium of chains 62 or theirequivalents. YVhen the shovels are in the ground, as shown in Fig. 2,the springs 61 are placed under tension, and when the thumb-latch of therear hand-lever 56 is carried out of engagement with the rack-bar 6Othe'springs 61 will assist in raisingthe shovelbeams to their upperposition when the driverforces the said lever 56 as far forward aspossible, as illustrated in Fig. 2; but this result may be automaticallyaccomplished by the assistance of the team, since when the thumblatch ofthe lever 56 is disengaged from the rack-bar and the team draws aheadthe axle will be given a forward inclination at its top and a rearwardinclination at its bottom, and the hanger-rods will be drawn upward bythe forward movement of the levers 45, connected with the beams throughthe drawbar connection between the crank-arms 50 of the rock-shaft 4Sand the vertical members of the axle A.

It is evident that the springs 61 are necessary to the perfect workingof the cultivator, as they impart life to the shovel-beams and assistvery materially in raising them. W'ithout them the shovel-beams would bedead and the operator would be obliged to raise the dead-weight.

Assuming that the operator is in his place in the seat 63, which issuspended between the rear portions of the side beams of the main frame,and that his weight exactly balances the weight of the pole, it is clearthat if the frame be moved forward in its bearings and the lower part ofthe axle shifted nearer the operator the pole will press downward, whileif the lower part of the axle be shifted in the opposite direction thefulcrum will be shifted away from the driver and the tongue will pressupward. Thus it will be seen that by moving the lower part of the axleto and fro the Weight of the pole upon the horses may be adjusted asdesired.

It is evident that either one of the shovelbeams may be adjustedvertically as required by moving the lever 45, belonging to the beam,either in a forward or in areal-ward direction. When the thumb latch onthe axle-lever 56 is disengaged from the rack-bar 60, the lower part ofthe axle moves backward just beyond its center before the shovel-beamsbegin to rise, and the weight ot'.the driver in his seat, in connectionwith the draft of the horses, raises the shovel-beams without any efforton the part of the operator..

The only time the slots 52 in the draw-bar 53 are brought into use iswhen both shovelbeams are raised at one time by disengaging thethumblateh 58 of the lever 56 from the rack 60 and throwing it forward,as shownin Fig. 1. The object of the slots 52 in the drawbar 53 is toallow. the lower part of the axle to move backward justbeyond its centerbefore the shovel-beams begin to rise. It will be readily understoodthat it is much easier to raise the shovel-beams after the lower part ofthe axle has passed beyond-the center than it would be if theshovel-beams began to rise at the same time that the lower part of theaxle began to move backward.

The arrangement of the notches on the racks 47 permits the lever 45,which is pivoted to the lower part of the rack 47, to have a free upwardmovement with the assistance of the springs 61. Underthe arrangement ofthe notches in the rack 60 when the thumb-latch 5S ofthe lever 56 isdisengaged from the rear end of the rack 60 there will be no obstructionuntil the lever reaches the front end of said rack 60.

With reference to a plan for regulating the regular depth of cultivatingthis is accomplished by raising or lowering the upper. part of thehanger-rods 38 on the nose of the head portions of thehand-levers 45 andthe upwardand-downward movement of the pins 22 at the front ends of theshovel-beams. It often becomes necessary to cultivate deeperat someplaces in a field than the regular set depth. This is accomplished by unlatchingthe latches 46 on the levers'45 and allowing one or both levers45 to move downward one, two, three, or more notches on the racks 47, asoccasion may require. IVhen regular ground-surface is again reached, thelever or levers 45 are pushed upward to their original place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-- and raised and lowered through the medium.

of said shifting fulcrum and means for raising and lowering the beamindependent of the movement of said fulcrum.

2. A frame, a shifting fulcrum for the frame capable of operation byhand or by the team, shovel or toothed beams raised and lowered throughthe medium of theeshifting fulcrum, means for raising and lowering thebeams independent of the movement of the shifting fulcrum, and tensiondevices normally influencing the beams in an upwardly direction.

3. A frame, a shifting fulcrum for the frame, a shovel or toothed beam,aihanger-rod connee-ted with the beam, a lever connected with thehanger-rod, and connections between the said lever and the shiftingfulcrum whereby the shovel or toothed beam is raised and lowered by themovement of the shifting fulcrum,

the said leverhaving. movement independent 7 of the movement oftheshifting fulcrum, to raise and lower the hanger-rod and beam.

4. In a cultivator, a support, a toothed or shovel beam pivotallyattached to said support, a guide-rod connected with the said beam andwith the said support, means for raising and lowering the said beam, anda fork extending over the guide-rod when the beam is raised to hold thebeam against lateral movement.

5. In acultivator, a support, a toothed or shovel beam pivotallyattached to said sup port, a pivoted guide-device connected with thesaid beam and with the said support, a locking device for the guidedevice, and means, substantially as described, for raising and loweringthe said beam, as set forth.

6. In a cultivator, a support, a toothed or shovel beam pivotallyattached to said support, a yoke secured to said shovel-beam andprovided with a series of loops, a guide-rod passing through the loopsof said yoke, means for raising and lowering the said beam, and a devicefor engaging the guide-rod when the beam is raised, substantially as setforth.

7. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame-supporting mechanismadapted for.

swinging movement forwardlyand rearwardly and shovel or toothed beams,of

hangern'ods connected with the said beams and provided with aperturesattheir upper ends and hand-levers each provided with a nose adapted toengage one of the apertures in the corresponding hanger-rod, as setforth.

8. In a cultivator, thecombination with'a frame, a shifting fulcrum forthe frame, a device for adjusting the said fulcrum and shovel or toothedbeams, of hanger-rods connected with the beams, levers each providedwith a nose adapted to engage an aperture in the corwheeled support, andtoothed or shovel beams pivotally attached to said support, of leversadapted to raise and lower the said beams, and hanger-rods adjustablyconnected with said levers the said hanger-rods being cushioned andconnected with said beams to have lateral movement andforward-andrearward movement, for the purpose specified.

11. In a cultivator, the combination, with a support, toothed or shovelbeams pivotally attached to said support, and levers adapted to raiseand lower the said beams, of hangerrods adjustably connected with saidlevers, bearings pivotally connected with said beams, casings pivotallyconnected with said bearings, said casings receiving the lower ends ofthe hanger-rods, said rods having sliding movementin said casings, andsprings located within the casings and connected with the saidhanger-rods, as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a cultivator, the combination, With a support, toothed or shovelbeams pivotally attachedto said support, and levers adapted to raise andlower the said beams, of hanger-rods adjustably connected with saidlevers, bearings pivotally connected with said beams, casings pivotallyconnected with said bearings, said casings receiving the lower ends ofthe hanger-rods, said rods having sliding movement in said casings,springs located within the casings and connected with the saidhanger-rods, and tension devices connected with said levers and with theforward portion of said support for the shovel or toothed beams, asdescribed.

13. A frame, a shifting fulcrum for the frame, means for adjusting saidfulcrum, shovel or toothed beams carried by the frame, ha nger-rodsconnected with the beams, levers connected directly with thehanger-rods, and a connection between the said levers and the shiftingfulcrum, substantially as set forth.

14:. The combination with a frame, ashifting fulcrum for the same, meansfor adjusting said fulcrum, and shovel or toothed beams carried by theframe, of racks secured to a shaft journaled in the frame, a cranlearmat each end of the shaft a connection between each of saidcrank-arms andthe shifting fulcrum, levers, means for locking the lovers to the racksand a connection between each of said levers and the corresponding beam,sub-' stantially as described.

15. In a cultivator, a frame, an arched axle forming a shifting fulcrumfor the frame, shovel or toothed beams, hanger-rods 'connected with thebeams, levers connected with the hanger-rods and each provided with athumb-latch adapted to engage a rack secured to a shaft journaled in themain frame, a crank-arm at each end of the shaft and provided with a pinand draw-bars pivoted at their lower ends to shoes secured to'thevertical portion of the arched axle the said draw-bars extendingupwardly and forwardly and provided with slots at their upper endsthrough which the pins on the said crank-arms pass, substantially asdescribed.

16. In a cultivator, a frame, an arched axle forming a shifting fulcrumfor the frame, shovel or toothed beams, hanger-rods connected with thebeams, levers connected with the hanger-rods and each provided with a thLimb-latch adapted to engage a rack secured to a shaft journaled in themain frame, a crank-arm at each end of the shaft and provided with apin, draw-bars'pivoted at their lower ends to shoes secured to thevertical portion of the arched axle, the said draw-bars extendingupwardly and forwardly from said shoes and provided with slots at theirupper ends through which the pins on the said crank arms pass and a linkpivoted to one of the shoes at the point where the draw-bar isconnected, the said link extending rearwardly, and a hand-lever to whichthe end of the link is pivoted the said hand-lever being provided withlocking means, substantially as set forth.

17. In a cultivator a main frame, an auxiliary frame pendent from theforward portion of the main frame, and provided with a bearing, a shovelor toothed beam, having its forward end upwardly curved and an armpivotally attached to said end of the beam and having anupwardly-extending pin adj ust-ably held in the said bearing,substantially as described.

LOUIS P. RIFE. Witnesses: GEo. W. WATKINs, GODFREY M. WATKINS.

